Dhaka, Dec 10 – The High Court Tuesday opined that “Joy Bangla” slogan must be used at the beginning and the end of all the state programmes from the upcoming ‘Victory Day’ on December 16. The HC bench comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the opinion during the final hearing on a rule hearing issued by it in two years ago in this regard.
On December 4 in 2017, following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Bashir Ahmed, the HC issued the rule asking the government to explain as to why “Joy Bangla” should not be declared as the national slogan.
The HC bench recently started the final hearing on the rule. The HC bench yesterday fixed January 14 for further hearing on the rule.
Some senior lawyers including Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Advocate KM Amin Uddin and Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque took parts in the yesterday’s hearing.
After coming out from the court, Deputy Attorney General Abdullah-Al-Mahmud Bashar said, “The High Court bench said that the Joy Bangla slogan must use in all state programme from upcoming Victory Day. It directed the government to ensure that the “Joy Bangla” slogan is used at first and last of state programmes.”
The High Court also expressed dissatisfaction at the use of “Bangladesh Zindabad” slogan saying that such slogan is used in Pakistan, he added.
During the hearing the stateside submitted before the court that as per Article 3 and 4 of the constitution Bangladesh has everything regarding the state language, state symbol, national anthem and national flag. But, there is no direction about the national slogan of the country in the constitution.
The prosecution side also said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had finished his historic March 7 speech with Joy Bangla, which is now a part of the constitution of the state as the had incorporated the historic 7 March speech of Bangabandhu into the constitution through the amendment in the meantime. Hence, the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan should incorporate into the constitution, they said.
Later, Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun told reporters that “Joy Bangla” slogan was our main mantra during the War of Liberation in 1971. The slogan ‘Joy Bangla’ for which freedom fighters had sacrificed their lives should include into the constitution and it must use as a national slogan.
He also said that many countries have specific national slogans. So, we prayed to the court to recognize ‘Joy Bangla’ as a national slogan.
Earlier, on December 4, during the hearing on the rule, the same bench of the HC observed that “Joy Bangla” was the only slogan at home and abroad during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
The HC bench said that some poets, litterateurs and intellectuals of the then West Pakistan had chanted slogan as “Joy Bangla” and therefore, they were arrested and sent to jail in 1971.
When the Pakistan occupation force shot freedom fighters during the war, freedom fighters embraced death chanting Joy Bangla slogan, the HC bench added.
Following a writ petition by Supreme Court lawyer Bashir Ahmed, another HC bench on December 4, 2017, issued the rule asking the government to explain why Joy Bangla should not be declared the national slogan.
In the petition, Advocate Bashir said Joy Bangla was the slogan of freedom fighters and people of Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971.
“Joy Bangla was the slogan of our independence and national unity and therefore it should remain as the national slogan — a symbol of national spirit and patriotism,” he said in the petition.
Advocate Bashir Ahmed represented himself at the hearing while the stateside also sported him during the hearing on the rule as the government had supported the demand of the petition. – Staff Reporter
